SCOTTISH COURT.

Grey River Argus, 17 July 1922, Page 8

SCOTTISH COURT.

EVICTIONS AT GLASGOW. KIRKWOOD THE POOR MAN’S K.C. GLASGOW, June 2. The Summary Ejectment Court was crowded. There were over 500 eases to be tried that <ay (says the “ Forward”) Five i-l families who, if **decree” v. against them would find 1 without a home. 1 sdt dov. t the : '.rival of he Sheriff. Suddenly a <if i roned and I saw ‘he people r’.s io their feet and several move forward. Thinking it was the fudge I rose u • took off my hat m deference. not the Sh -riiT. 1!■ was the tas lean figure, 1' •* 1 • 1 natured. l sial counteir nee of ’ ac.illor David Kirkwood. Labour ■ ■ lidate for Cl; debank—the Tenants K<! Immediately the people, men and wo a •)!, surged round him. The, crowded ■ay, clutched hi.- arms, cauuht his '• ds and ail s< em<* 1 anxious tgot h - ttention firat. ’ve noticed, on our Laird’s a«urtday. A ’ mony a time my heart’s been wae, I / tenant bodies, scant o’ cash. ili>\ thev maunt t <■' a factor’s snashx Ho’ll stamp and threaten, curse an ’ IL. pprehend them, pond their gear; Wl . - they maun stair, wi’ aanect 1- timble, Xn ' hear it a’, an’ fear an’ tremble! 1 how folk live that ha’e riches: But surely poor folk maun be wretches” But no picture of rural poverty can compare with the g’.imy, sordid, diseased hideousness of a city slum, A door opens quickly. We all rise. The Sheriff, wigged : nd gowned, enters and takes his seat Most of the cases are disposed of by agreement between the factor’s reinesentative. the Clerk and Mr Kirkwood. It is only when negotiations break down that decision of the Sheriff is sought. A woman’s name is called. The dark shawl which she wore across her forehead and close down her face threw her pallid profile into clear relief. She had evidently been a very handsome woman once, but that was before the effacing fingers of worry had swent the lingering beauty from her cheek On learning that her hush- nd was un

employed through the engineering dispute the Sheriff turned to Kirkwood and ■ said:— ■ “Why don’t these men have sense. I If they can't get the big wages they got before, they will at least get something and this woman wouldn’t be here. ’ ’ ■ Kirkwood: • I don’t want to argue with ust let me s:lv this: The wc ses since aw: y : ‘‘ore the Far. iv’ been tryiu . 1! rough their 'ons, to improv . -1 protect Pi i ard o’ life, and i; 's because that standard is being at : .eked that the mm : re oot the noo. Sheriff: But tl i has been au in ~ liry and the m; n been proved to L. in the wrong. don’t they accept that? Kirkwood: Aw, my Lord, fair do! fair Sheriff: That’s quite fair. They’d ail get started to-morrow if they had the sense to go back. Kirkwood: My Lord, we of the working cl ss are a’ the victims o’ a veecious system. This v,uniman’s man, me masel’, we’re a’ sufferin’ frae it. Look at this crood here the-day. This is in Glcsca, the biggest toon in Scotian’. He swept the audience with an eloquent gesture. “These are Scotsmen and Scotswomen. The race that defied the might o’ Bum a Scots wha ha ’e wi ’ Wallace bled, Scots wham Bruce has often led. There they sit, the sons and daughters o’ this prood land, waiting to be pit oot o’ their hooses. It’s the system, my Lord. ’ ’ Sheriff: Yes; but meanwhile what’s

to be done?’’ Kirkwood (whispering to the woman): Can ye pey 6/- a week? The woman nodded. Kirkwood: “I wad ask ye, my Lord, tae gi’e this puir wummin wi n mair chance. She’ll pey G/- a week. Sheriff: All right. Kirkwood (aside): Hurry up! All ye go! The next case was a man who said, with a strong American accent, that he had left this country’ for the U.S.A. 22 years ago. Clerk: A very b* d case, my Lord. Been here six times. Sheriff: Why did you not stay i« America? We have enough of our own to keep. “I came over in 1916 to fight.” r The Judge was obviously staggered. Kirkwood: My Lord, I wad ask yo i to give this man another chance. 1 understand he’s got a job noo. The call went oot tae the en’s o’ the earth that the Motherland was in danger. This man heard that cal lawny ower in America and he couldna get here quick enough. Ye ken yersel’ whit they were promised. Were the promises kept ? Ye ken they werena. .1 i ■ ye gaun tae turn this defender o' i. mtry oot on tae the street noo? ■, my Lord, ye widnae dae it. Whisper rside Io i n: Can ye pey sceven and six? Yo see he ken’s ye'r e orkin ’. The man nodded. Kirkwood: My L< •• ’ he’ll pay seeven and six. A’m sha nafll dae? Sheriff (wearily): Yes. Seven and six. As her name is called, a poor, old k woman neatly dressed in faded black, hobbles, on a pair of crutches, slowly

and painfully to the rail. Partially’ paralysed ami obviously' very’ weak, she could scarcely stand. Her hands trembled so much that she had difficulty in controlling her crutches. The factor’s man was firm for immediate eviction. “I want the house,’’ he said, harshly. Kirkwood flashed back: “An’ pit this old woman oot! Ye’re no gaun tae get the hoose! ” The old woman clung to the rail and turned to Kirkwood, who cried: “My Lord, this puir auld wummin ye .-•rm here is a weedow. She h: s only son. She offers five shilling a week. • t no a shame to bring an auld nimin like this here at a’. is it • . my Lord?” •‘Why’ didn’t your son come him , f? ’ ’ asked tire Sheriff. Kirkwood: He’s jist. new got a job ami’ he’s feert he niieht loss it. The tears were streaming down the tdd woman’s cheeks. The Sheriff softened. ‘‘Oh, yes, my Lord, he’s a good 1: d, he’ll pay.” “All right, all right, do your best.” Big Kirkwood, his lip twitching, bent down, put his arm round the frail body and gently helped her to her seat. He 1 ad a mother of his own. A bright lad of about 10. comas to the rail, weeping. “Why are you here?’’ ask« the Sheriff. The boy whispers three words to the Clerk The Clerk nods sympathetically. Kirkwood stsffene “Wirt is it?” asks the Judge. Kirkwood: There’s been a death, ma Lord. With a quick angry glance at the factors clerk, and an impatient jerk of his head towards the door, the Sheriff motions tire boy away. There was no need for articulate speech. Law or no law, Summary Eiectment Court though it be, he will not allow a dead body to bo thrown on the street. Kirkwood pats the boy’s head. ■‘Tell vour auntie it’s a’ right.’ A woman carving a young baby in a shawl is celled forward —a bright babv that smiled to Kirkwood and looked round the court room “A bad case, my Lord, only paid three weeks since January,” says the Clerk. This is her third time here. I don't see what else you can do “What is your husband?” “lie's a dock labourer, my Lord.’ Here the factor’s man broke m. “This woman has been let. off twice already and it’s no use We want the house. ’ ’ “I’m afraid I’ll have to grant decree in this ease,” said the Judge. “My Lord, I would ask you; gi’e her jist wan mair chance,” pleaded Kirkwood. “She’ll do .it this time. She’ll pey 5/- a week.” “No! No! Mr Kirkwood. She. said that before. I must — “My Lord, wull ye no gi’e her anither chance —jist wan mair ebartco.— before ye pit her not on the street? Wull ye KO, my Lord?”

• No, Mr Kirkwood, I cannot.* 'irkwood stood back —beaten. Tl® d e his best. / . be judge proceeded to enter decree. A silence in the Court. A. little crow from the baby made Kirkwood look up. Il- saw the child gazing towards his Lordship, who had last spoken. Inst.aiitly he leans forward, over the rail. ‘■Aw! Luk at the wee wean, m' I .ord! ’ ’ The Judge raised his head and glanced at the baby. The stern features re laxed, and with a hurried gesture as one, who vowing, “I will ne’er consent —consented.’' “All right, all right,” he said, with a wave of dismissal; “but see you pay it this time.” At. the beginning of the proceedings J took off my hat to Kirkwood by mistake, now by deliberate int ent ion 1 raise my hat in admiration and respect tn David Kirkwood, Tribune of the People. I